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Messages - rbwillnj

16
Loading Data & Reloading Procedures / Re: Powder Check
« on: February 01, 2023, 11:58:52 am »
Checking to see if powder dropped is sort of a Dillon thing.   At least that's what I here.

17
Stars Want to Sell/Want to Buy / Re: WTB: Maurilew Powder drain
« on: January 16, 2023, 12:36:46 pm »
Last time I talked to him he was in his 90's and still going strong, but that was a while ago.

I do have a couple of his units. available.    Star slightly changed their powder slide housings over the years and the Maurilew powder drains do not fit all powder slide housings.

Bruce Williams

18
Star Reloaders / Re: 223 conversion parts
« on: January 03, 2023, 12:42:29 pm »
It took me years to put together my first Super Star kit with pieces coming from multiple sources.   It took me quite a while just to figure out what all was included in a Super Star kit.   The last kit I acquired came all together in the original box.  All gone now.

Bruce Williams

19
Star Reloaders / Re: 223 conversion parts
« on: January 03, 2023, 08:33:41 am »
It's a 5/8" adjustable powder slide.   The housing is special because it holds the expander and powder spout in place.

20
Star Reloaders / Re: Switching between 45 ACP and 45 Auto Rim
« on: November 01, 2022, 10:14:30 pm »
Changing between 45 ACP and 45 Auto Rim only requires changing the shell plate.   Very easy, should only take a couple of minutes.

I have 45 Auto Rim shell plates in stock.

Bruce Williams

21
Bruce, I need the top holder for the tube only but will purchase the whole adaptor if you sell it as a set. Please send 2 alum either way. Let me know all the info. on payment, Thankyou Mike

Sent you and email Mike.

22
Star Reloaders / Re: Text Files
« on: July 24, 2022, 02:35:18 pm »
It worked at first.

23
Star Reloaders / Re: What is the diameter of your neck expander?
« on: May 10, 2022, 01:20:45 pm »
I don't really recommend going with a larger sizer.   First of are you are really overworking the brass.   Sizing it way down then expanding it back up.   Brass gets work hardened and you will significantly shorten the life of the brass.   Also, with the larger expander you will tend to build up a lot of brass on the expander.  With thinner brass like 32 S&WL you end up tearing the case.  Probably won't tear a 45 ACP case, but your will notice a lot more drag as you raise the tool head.

So, what's the alternative.   Hone the carbide ring so you are not oversizing the case.   The carbide ring of a typical 45 ACP sizing die has an ID of ~0.467".   When you size Federal brass you end up with a case that accepts a 0.449" pin gauge.   You will probably get different results with different brass.    I recently honed out a 45 ACP sizing die to 0.471".   With the Federal brass I was using, this yields a case that accepts a 0.451" pin gauge.

Bruce Williams

24
Survey Says... / Re: Foreign IP addresses banned?
« on: May 04, 2022, 08:38:10 am »
Humbo,

I will check with the administrator.   I doubt if all foreign IP addresses are banned, but there are continuous computer-generated attempts to gain access to forum which might cause the administrator to take security measures.

Bruce Williams

25
Star Reloaders / Re: Automated star loaders
« on: April 15, 2022, 02:46:09 pm »
Cross Section from the manual

26
Star History / Re: Progressive NO. 54
« on: April 13, 2022, 08:16:18 am »
The tilted powder magazine is required to clear the crankshaft bearing.

All of the early sizing dies were hardened steel.   Carbide sizing dies didn't come along until just after WWII.   I'm not sure if the sizing die is original.  The sizing die on the other very early machine I have, and on the American Rifleman machine is not knurled.  (like the seating die on this machine)

Yes,  38 Special

I was told this machine came from a Sheriffs Department near Tulsa, OK

27
Star History / Progressive NO. 54
« on: April 12, 2022, 04:13:53 pm »
I have added to my collection of Pat. Pending Stars with the oldest one yet.     It's hard to see but stamped on the base is NO. 54, so maybe the 54th machine Star produced?  It has obviously been re-blued by a previous owner and It's green.   At first, I though it must be a re-paint, but the more I look at it, the more I think it is original paint.   There is a light green primer on the underside of the base and that same primer can be seen peeking through the green topcoat.   The angle lever is not original, and I think original the powder slide was probably brass.

The last picture is from a review of the Star Reloader that appeared in the May 1934 issue of American Rifleman.   There are a few differences between that machine and this that make me think that NO.54 is actually older.

Bruce Williams

28
Stars Want to Sell/Want to Buy / Re: Shipping star presses
« on: March 16, 2022, 08:36:52 am »
In my experience, UPS and FedEx ground are pretty competitive with one another and cheaper than Priority Mail.  You might be able to ship via USPS Parcel Select, but I don't know the weight and size limitations for that service.   

I pack the reloaders I sell very well.   I bolt the aluminum base to a piece of half inch plywood and use brown packing paper to fill the voids so the reloader can't move around.   A reloader with a case feeder generally packs out to just under 30 lbs.     Cost of shipping comes down to weight and distance.   Shipping rates have really gone up in the past couple years and it now costs about $65 to ship coast to coast.   That includes a small discount I get from FedEx.   If you take it to a UPS store you will probably pay more.   

Whatever you do, don't use Styrofoam peanuts.  They will compress in shipment and things will get broken.

29
Star Reloaders / Re: Automated star loaders
« on: March 10, 2022, 08:31:59 am »
Just the pictures.   Somewhere I have a manual that I picked up on eBay but haven't been able to locate it yet.

30
Star Reloaders / Re: Automated star loaders
« on: March 08, 2022, 10:58:54 am »
You might also be thinking of the Wemco-Williams which was offered commercially.